The Palestine Chronology

3-day OIC conference opens in Tehran. Egypt's Mubarak, Jordan's King Hussein, Morocco's King Hassan stay away under U.S. pressure; Egypt sends delegation headed by FM Musa. Jordan's Crown Prince Hasan, Syria's Pres. Asad, Lebanon's PM Hariri, Pres. Ilyas Hrawi; PA's Arafat attend; Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince `Abdullah; Iraq's VP Ramadan. (MM 12/9; MM, WT 12/10; JTV 12/11 in WNC 12/15; MEI 12/19)

PA mission to the UN suspends effort to upgrade its status to a level just short of full UN General Assembly (UNGA) membership after failing to muster enough votes to defeat an EU amendment that would have delayed putting the measure into effect. (NYT 12/11; PR 12/12)

Secy. of State Albright holds morning mtg. with Gulf Cooperation Counil (GCC) FMs in Abha, Saudi Arabia (see Doc. D2 for statement); then travels to Amman to meet with King Hussein. (JT, JTV 9/14, RJ 9/15 in WNC 9/16; MM, NYT, WP, WT 9/15; MM 9/16; MEI 9/26)

PM Netanyahu announces plans to release half of the money Israel as withheld fr. the PA since the 7/30 suicide bombings, will ease internal closure as goodwill gesuture. (NYT, WP, WT 9/15)

Jordan, Israel discuss setting up free-trade zone in Irbid, Jordan. (al-Ra'i 9/15 in WNC 9/16; al-Ra'i 9/16 in WNC 9/17; JP 9/27)

PA says that it has arrested 123 suspected Hamas, Islamic Jihad mbrs. since Albright arrived in the region 9/10. (WT 9/15)

Hizballah detonates a roadside bomb in s. Lebanon, killing 3 mbrs. of the IDF's Golani Brigade, wounding 2. (WP 9/15; JP 9/27)

Secy. of State Albright says that she will leave for the Middle East 9/9. She will travel to Egypt, Israel, Jordan, the PA self-rule areas, Saudi Arabia, Syria, possibly Lebanon. (MM 8/29; NYT, WT 8/30)

On his way home fr. Asia, PM Netanyahu stops in Azerbaijan to discuss possible oil purchase. (ITAR-TASS [Moscow] 8/29 in WNC 9/2; NTV [Moscow] 8/29 in WNC 9/4)

Following IDF fatalities in s. Lebanon 8/28, Labor Chmn. Barak urges swift negotiations for a gradual withdrawal fr. Lebanon. (IDF Radio 8/29 in WNC 9/4; NYT 8/30)

IDF demolishes 1 Palestinian home in East Jerusalem. (PHRIC 10/21)

Jordan announces it will spend $244 m. over the next 4 yrs. to improve infrastructure in 13 Palestinian refugee camps in the kingdom. (JT 8/31 in WNC 9/4)

In preparation for 11/97 elections, King Hussein issues decree dissolving Jordan's Lower House of parliament effective 9/1. (RJ 8/29, JTV 8/31 in WNC 9/4)

In New York, a federal grand jury indicts Gazi Ibrahim Abu Mayzar, Lafi Khalil (arrested 7/31) for allegedly plotting to bomb in the New York City subway. (WT 8/30)

In Los Angles, 8 Iraqi mbrs. of CIA-backed resistance groups who say that they have been wrongly accused by the U.S. of spying for Iraqi pres. Saddam Hussein are ordered deported for failure to hold valid visas, work permits. The 8, who fear that Hussein will execute them for being U.S. spies, may still apply for political assylum. (WT 8/30)

2 suicide bombers dressed as ultra-Orthodox Jews detonate explosives in a crowded market in Jerusalem, killing 13 Israelis, wounding more than 170 Israelis, Palestinians. IDF immediately seals the West Bank, Gaza, preventing even town-to-town movement; suspends recognition of Palestinian passports; sends troops to seal the PA-controlled cities. A letter signed by Hamas's military wing, Izzeddin al-Qassam Brigades, takes responsibility, but Israeli security question its authenticity, Hamas political leader `Abd al-Aziz Rantisi says Hamas was not involved. (MM 7/30; IDF Radio, ITV, RE 7/30 in WNC 7/31; IDF Radio, ITV, JTV 7/30, MA, RAI Uno Television [Rome], RE, YA 7/31 in WNC 8/1; CSM, NYT, WP, WT 7/31; ITV 7/31 in WNC 8/6; CSM, WT 8/1; AFP, MAP [Rabat], VOA 8/1 in WNC 8/4; NYT 8/3; al-Dustur, al-Majd 8/4 in WNC 8/7; CSM 8/5; WJW 8/7; MEI, PR 8/8; JP 8/9; CSM 8/11)

In the wake of the bombings, PM Netanyahu, FM Levy phone Secy. of State Albright, demand that the U.S. put pressure Arafat. The Israeli cabinet suspends all contacts with the PA until Arafat acts against Islamists "with determination," destroys their infrastructure. However, 1 mtg. btwn. Israeli, PA security officials is held. Over night, an IDF helicopter hovers over Arafat's Gaza headquarters, an Israeli warplane circles the Gaza Strip. (MM 7/30; ITV 7/30 in WNC 7/31; MM, NYT, WP, WT 7/31; YA 7/31 in WNC 8/4; WT 8/1)

As a result of the bombings, U.S. special envoy Ross cancels plans to leave today for the Middle East to meet with Arafat, Netanyahu. (MM, WT 7/30; NYT, WP, WT 7/31)

In Amman, King Hussein receives Israeli Knesset "Coalition Bloc for Peace," comprising Gesher, Third Way, Yisra'el B'Aliya, Shas MKs and the dir. of Israel's International Center of Peace in the Middle East. (JTV 7/30 in WNC 7/31)

State Dept. lifts the 12-yr.-old ban forbidding Americans to travel to Lebanon after that government agrees to take new steps to improve security at various locations, pledges to ratify an international convention against hostage-taking. The decision does not include lifting the ban on flights by Lebanese carriers to the U.S. or by U.S. carriers to Lebanon. (MM, WP 7/30; RL, RMC 7/30 in WNC 7/31; WT 7/31; al-Safir 7/31 in WNC 8/1; RL 8/4 in WNC 8/5; WT 8/6; al-Safir 8/6 in WNC 8/8; MEI 8/8)

Saudi Arabian dissident Sayigh backs out of a plea agmt. with the FBI to cooperate in the al-Khobar bombing case; says that he is innocent of any wrongdoing; was pressured by Canadian immigration officials to make statements on the bombing to avoid being deported to Saudi Arabia, where he faces execution. (NYT, WT 7/31) (see 6/30)

ILMG opens 2-day mtg. to discuss 1 Lebanese, 3 Israeli complaints. (VOL 7/30, RL 7/31 in WNC 8/1)

UN extends the UNIFIL mandate for 6 mos. (RL 7/30 in WNC 8/1)

Israeli naval forces detain 5 Lebanese fishermen off the coast of s. Lebanon, interrogate them before releasing them. (RL 7/29 in WNC 7/30) (see 7/28)

Egyptian FM Musa arrives in Amman for talks with Jordanian PM Majali, FM Fayiz Tarawnah on the peace process, bilateral relations. (JTV, RJ 6/24 in WNC 6/25; al-Ra'i 6/25 in WNC 6/26)

Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Abdullah arrives for 3-day visit to Syria to coordinate positions on the peace process. (MM 6/24; Saudi Arabian Kingdom Radio 6/24, 6/25 in WNC 6/26; MM 6/25; SA 7/1 in WNC 7/2)

PM Netanyahu wins (55-50) no-confidence vote. 15 MKs, including 11 mbrs. of his coalition (most notably FM Levy) stay away or abstain. (CSM, MM, NYT, WP, WT 6/25; MA 6/25 in WNC 6/26; WJW, WP, WT 6/26; CSM 6/27) (see 6/23)

Syrian VP Khaddam, FM Shara` arrives in Saudi Arabia on the first leg of a Gulf tour to urge the Gulf states to lobby the U.S. in support of Syria's negotiation position toward Israel, to not move ahead with normalization. (MM 1/27; AFP, SA 1/27 in WNC 1/29)

Israel says that multilateral talks will resume at a steering comm. mtg. that will be held in Moscow in 4/97. (IDF Radio 1/26 in WNC 1/28; MM 1/31)

In Israel, FM Levy meets with Russian Dep. FM Viktor Posuvalyuk. (IDF Radio 1/26 in WNC 1/28)

In Israel, EU special envoy Moratinos meets with Israeli FM Levy. (AFP 1/27 in WNC 1/28)

The Israeli Ministerial Comm. on Jerusalem Affairs grants the Jerusalem Municipality a $40-m. budget supplement for building infrastructure (e.g., roads, sewage and water systems) to connect East and West Jerusalem. The PA says such construction would prejudice the outcome of final status negotiation. The Prime Minister's Office declares that Jerusalem is, will always be united under Israeli sovereignty; the grant is meant "to align this declaration with reality." (IDF Radio 1/26 in WNC 1/28)

Israeli police open investigation into Bar-On's appointment as atty. gen. (NYT, WP, WT 1/27; MM 1/28; WT 2/3; MEI 2/7) (see 1/24)

In Amman, King Hussein undergoes orthoscopic surgery on both knees. (RJ 1/26 in WNC 1/28; JTV 1/27 in WNC 1/29; JP 2/15)